Former President John Jerry Rawlings
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has debunked reports that he has endorsed some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), who are aspiring for national executive and flagbearer positions of the party.
A statement issued by the office of former President John Rawlings categorically stated that he has not “endorsed any individual or group vying for roles in the party.”
The statement, signed by Kobina Andoh Amoakwa, said it is the avowed wish of the former president that the consultative process started by the Council of Elders would not be undermined.
There have been media reports that the founder of the NDC has endorsed some members of the party who are vying for some sensitive positions in the party.
The reports said that the former President is rooting for former Finance Minister, Prof. Kwesi Botchwey, to lead the party into the 2020 presidential election to avoid the embarrassing defeat the party suffered in the last elections.
It further claimed Mr. Rawlings had also endorsed one-time National Chairman aspirant of the NDC, Hudu Yahaya, to lead the party.
Mr. Rawlings, however, denied those reports, urging the media carrying the wild allegations to cross-check their facts “to avoid the dissemination of false and propaganda related material.”
“The founder of the NDC wishes to make it clear that he has not endorsed any individual or group vying for roles in the party,”
Former President John Dramani Mahama and Augustus Goosie Tanoh, onetime aide to former Mr. Rawlings, are among the few aspirants who have called on the former President in recent times.
Committed Patriots
Mr. Rawlings has in recent times urged delegates of the party to reject candidates who will approach them with money in order to gain their votes.
According to him, it is about time the delegates push to the sidelines, individuals with parochial interests.
He reiterated that the consultative process which was initiated by the Council of Elders should not be stampeded.
This, according to him “should pave way for the emergence of true and committed patriots, whose object and focus is to re-establish the noble core of our tradition and values.”
Polls
The NDC is expected to hold its National Delegates’ Conference in November to elect its national executives.
The election, which would decide who leads the party in the 2020 Presidential election, is slated for December 7, 2018.
By Gibril Abdul Razak